Resources for Parents / Families
Keeping Children Safe
Since you can't always be with your kids, it's important to teach them how to find help and keep themselves safe. Most importantly, you need to do this in a way that doesn't scare yourself or your children. Instead, you want to build your children's self-confidence. Your kids will feel safer when they can confidently recognize dangerous situations and respond immediately.
Links:
- PKF’s Keeping Children Safe
- Autism Speaks – Preventing Wandering
- Childhelp USA – National Child Abuse Hotline
- FBI Resources for Parents
- Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Safety Publications
- radKIDS – Personal Empowerment Safety Education
Runaways
The myth about runaways is that they made the decision to go and will come home when they want to. The truth is that kids aren’t safe by themselves on the streets. In fact, runaway youth are more likely to become victims of abduction and sex trafficking. No child is prepared for life on the streets.
Links:
- PKF’s Suggestions for Recovery: Runaways
- National Runaway Safeline – Parents & Guardians
- National Safe Place
- State Missing Child Clearinghouses
- StopBullying.gov – Parents, What Can You Do
Human Trafficking
A staggering 85% of PKF’s missing children cases are considered endangered runaways and if the current statistic holds true that it is likely that one and five runaways will become victims of trafficking, then we are working on the frontlines of the trafficking of minors’ epidemic in the United States. PKF is committed to helping to recover these children and providing them with resources to return home when appropriate, or guide them to resources that can help these most vulnerable children.
Links:
- PKF’s Child Trafficking
- A Parent’s Guide to Human Trafficking
- Child Sex Trafficking in America: A Guide for Parents and Guardians
- Child Sexual Exploitation Guide for Parents and Caregivers
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center
Preventing Family Abduction
You may not realize that each year over 200,000 children are kidnapped by a family member. The good news is that family abductions can often be prevented. The following information can help you keep your children safe.
Links:
- PKF’s Preventing Family Abductions
- Child Find of America – Parent Help
- Department of Justice – The Crime of Family Abduction
- NCMEC Family Abduction Prevention and Response Guide
- Report: America’s Hidden Crime: When the Kidnapper is Kin
International Family Abduction
Sometimes a family abductor will take the child out of the United States. For the most accurate and up-do-date information on international child abductions and the policies of specific countries, the Polly Klaas Foundation recommends the following resources.
Links:
- PKF’s When the Kidnapper Leaves the Country
- NCMEC’s Family Resource Guide on International Parental Kidnapping
- US Department of State – Children’s Passport Issuance
- U.S. Department of State – International Child Abduction
Internet Safety
Most people kids meet online are fine. Some are predators. The greatest risk is that a predator will develop a relationship with a child (called "grooming") and the child will go to meet this person they believe is their "friend." The Polly Klaas Foundation's FREE Child Safety Kit (which includes Internet Safety information) will help parents keep children safer online and will help you open communications about the Internet with your children.
Links:
- PKF’s Internet Safety
- Enough is Enough – Internet Safety 101
- NCMEC NetSmartz Worksop – Parents & Guardians
- OnGuardOnline.gov – Protect Kids Online
- The Parents’ Guide to Teaching your Teen Online Safety
Sex Offender Information
All states require that sex offenders register their addresses and that certain information about them be made available to the public for free. It is important to know who is living in your neighborhood, but it's just as important to teach your children the safety rules so that they can learn to recognize and avoid danger.
Links:
